long live football

With a week and a half before Christmas, the winter break of German football has arrived.

从12月14号放到1月21号,将近六周的假期,在欧洲五大联赛里是最长的——英超没有冬歇期,西甲放了10天，意甲两周左右,法甲三周左右。

The extremely unbalanced winter break between England and Germany has caused a very interesting phenomenon in the football world of the two countries: when the Premier League fans feel unfair about the extremely busy schedule of their stars, and denounce the FA and the club as a group of only commanding When the players worked hard and were vampires who never let them take a break, the German fans complained that the domestic holidays were too long. During these six weeks, the players could celebrate the New Year with their families, go on vacation in the southern hemisphere, and even The wedding and honeymoon can be finished in one go, they are rested comfortably, but the fans can't even watch a game, the New Year is boring enough.

In fact, the winter break in Germany has not always been so long. 1963-1964 When the German League just started, all systems were incomplete. Except for the first winter break in December 1963, which was as long as 12 days, the winter break in the next few decades was only about 27 weeks. The players couldn't enjoy the complete New Year's holiday, nor could they get enough rest during the holiday. After returning to the team, they naturally didn't have the mood to try their best to play. After the holiday, almost none of the players played well in the first round.

Moreover, winter in Germany is very cold, and it snows from time to time. In the 67s, most clubs in Germany did not have advanced stadium facilities. The lighting equipment was not high-end, and there was no geothermal system in the stadium. Some small teams had turf drainage systems. No - this means that in the event of bad weather such as rain and snow during the game, the players may not be able to see the ball rolling on the court, and the turf may accumulate water and freeze.

These factors, coupled with the fact that the Bundesliga Bundesliga plays four games less than other leagues in each season, and the reason why the German Football Association wants to increase the European competitiveness of its own teams (most of the restart time after the Champions League and Europa League after the year) It's February, and the long winter break helps German teams prepare for European competitions).Therefore, starting from the 2-1986 season, the German Football Association carried out reforms, and the winter break was extended to six weeks to two months, so as to facilitate the integration of the European war.

When the reform of the winter break has passed for more than ten years and the world has entered the 21st century, some fans and stakeholders (certain groups and individuals who are jealous of the FA's income during the New Year holiday) began to feel that the winter break in Germany was too much. Long, the holiday should be shortened appropriately.

Perhaps there is a saying that is right: football is actually a kind of reincarnation.

……

After the club gave all staff players a holiday, there was no one game after another to empty Karl's head. He was finally able to calm down and consider the team's lineup for the second half of the season.

Although the Jankel and Bender brothers were promoted from the youth team, the problem of lack of main players in Munich 1860 still exists. Jankel is fine, but the Bender brothers are still too young. In order to protect them, at least next season Before arriving, Karl will not let the twins play the main role all the time.

So the day before the holiday, Carl stayed in the youth academy for another whole day, hoping to find some good seedlings, and finally in the afternoon he had a new harvest-Fabian Johnson, 17 years old this year, strong, steals Excellent passing ability and comprehensive position, good at playing left and right backs.

With the addition of two energetic young defenders, Janker and Johnson, at least there is no need to worry that the opponent can easily break through the defense of 1860 Munich, but the midfield and frontcourt have not yet been replenished with fresh blood, which cannot improve the team's attack Without strength, it will be difficult for Munich to break into the top three in the standings.

Karl has been looking forward to the club buying a few midfielders during the winter transfer period since a month ago, but until the end of half the season, no one discussed this with him-although the Bundesliga is not like Like the Premier League, the transfer power is controlled by the head coaches alone, but in some clubs the coach is quite able to speak out about the transfer. Even for ordinary small clubs, the team will still negotiate with them before they are ready to buy. The head coaches should discuss and understand what kind of players the team needs so that they can make targeted choices in the transfer market, right?

Seeing that Christmas is approaching and the transfer window is about to open, the club has remained silent all along. Karl has doubts and doubts: Are the executives not planning to buy people in the winter?

He hesitated for a few days, but still couldn't sit still, so he decisively came to the office of the club chairman Orr to visit.

Al received him warmly.

"Try this chocolate, my wife bought it in Switzerland, it's my favorite." The chubby chairman smiled and pushed a box of candies on the table towards Karl: "What a coincidence that you came, if it was tomorrow, I guess I Not at the club anymore, our family is going to France for the New Year."

Orr has a good impression of Carl, because it is because of this young man's achievements in leading the team that the chairman seat under his buttocks is now secure and comfortable.

Karl waved his hand and rejected the chairman's kindness. He directly asked: "Actually, I came here today to ask you whether the club has considered buying new players for the team during the next month's transfer window."

Al was taken aback for a moment, and he blinked, as if he was surprised by Carl's straightforwardness.

"I didn't mean to inquire about anything." Karl explained: "It's just that the main players of the team are too old, and we need to add fresh blood."

Orr was a little puzzled: "Don't we still have a youth team? We can always find suitable players there."

"The ones I like are too young, and I have already promoted four players from the youth team to the first team." Karl spread his hands helplessly: "Even the four of them can't be sent to the field all at once. , These young players are inexperienced and need more training to adapt to the fierce competition."

Orr showed a embarrassed expression: "But the club is very difficult financially..."

Of course Karl knew that the club’s financial conditions were very poor, because during the months when he came to Munich 1860, every time the team went to other cities to play games, they tried to go back on the same day to save the cost of accommodation.If you encounter a situation where the opponent is very strong and you have to go to the hotel one day earlier to rest and prepare for the game, the two teams will share a room-according to assistant coach Garrard, the club has banned players since last season We stayed in a single room in the hotel when we played an away game.

But in modern football, money is the root of everything - only when money is paid to scouts and agents, the team has the opportunity to grasp football talents in advance; only when money is used in the transfer market can good coaches and players be bought If you have money to pay high salaries for the main players in the team, they will not think about changing jobs all day long; if you have money to give bonuses to players and employees, everyone will work together to pursue victory; Only those who have paid can be rewarded, and in the football world, not paying is tantamount to going backwards.

To make a simple analogy, Munich 1860 encountered Allen in the last game, and tortured Allen to death.But after the transfer period passes and the league reopens, Munich without new aid is still the same Munich, and Allen, who bought many players in one breath during the transfer season, is no longer that opponent... When they meet again, it may be because of their strength The greatly increased Allen abused Munich.

Even Karl understands this, so it makes no sense that Orr, the chairman, doesn't understand.

Besides, the current team's performance is not so bad that there is no need to save it. Whichever club is unbeaten in 11 rounds of the league, the owner will immediately invest additional funds to try to hit the Bundesliga next season, right?

Karl frowned: "Is the club really so poor that they can't even pay out hundreds of thousands of euros?" How can I say that Munich 1860 is also a team with a century-old history. It has been working hard in the top league for a long time. As for Bayern Munich's joint construction of the Allianz Arena, if Karl believes that the financial situation is tight this year and there are not many circulating funds, but he can't even afford one million euros, others will think he is telling a joke.

"The club has just finished paying the second installment of the Allianz Stadium. There are some liquid funds on the books, but most of them are bank loans. The more the club borrows, the higher the club's debt ratio. So now any amount exceeding 10 I need to notify all shareholders in writing of the direction of the funds in the euro.”

After a pause, Orr said to Carl hintingly: "When the team's former head coach Goetz resigned, the board of directors held a meeting overnight. At that time, there were only two head coach candidates for everyone to vote on. Ze nominated Manuel, a coach of a regional league, and I nominated you. At that time, many people supported Manuel to take over as the head coach, but I chose you against all odds.”

Wildmoser is the former chairman of Munich 1860. He resigned because of the bribery case. Although he is no longer the decision maker of the club, he still holds a lot of shares in the club, so he still has a lot of weight in the board of directors.

Including many of the club's current high-level executives, such as the vice chairman Zeutmeyer, according to Karl's hearing, they were all promoted during the Wildmoser period.Orr has only changed the club's personnel twice since he took office. One was to appoint Nesser as the transfer manager, and the other was to invite Carl from the Premier League.

Therefore, Orr's words probably express two meanings: 1. Although Wildmoser resigned, he still wants to intervene in club management. 2. In the eyes of other shareholders, Karl may have become a member of Auer's side.

No.Karl quickly realized that there should be a third hint in Orr's words-maybe Orr also wanted to support Karl's idea of ​​buying someone during the transfer period, but the board of directors gave him resistance.

Carl looked at Al.

Orr gave him a meaningful look.

Carl resented these power games that always involved outsiders, but he also knew that once he was in the game, it would not be easy to get out unless he became the winner.

"I can't make the board of directors have confidence in me even if I go unbeaten in eleven league games?" Carl said indifferently: "Don't the board of directors not want the team to return to the Bundesliga next season?"

"Everyone wants it, and it's eager and urgent." Orr said shrewdly: "But some people don't want this honor to fall on me, and some people think you are still too young and unsafe. Let me think about them How did you say—”

Orr made an expression of reminiscence, then raised his chin, imitated with an arrogant look: "New coaches always waste money. There is no new coach who does not spend money to buy players after taking office, but They have very little experience in transfers, and they often can't buy value-for-money or even super-value stars. Those new players who join the team will be sold out at a discount after only one or two seasons. It will be us who will suffer at that time. These club shareholders!"

Hearing this, Karl laughed, quite mockingly: "I, a novice with 'no transfer experience', wanted to spend a lot of money in the transfer market. Unfortunately, my wallet is empty, and I don't even have half a euro in it."

Al smiled awkwardly, but didn't answer.

"Perhaps it's not all the fault of those shareholders." An idea suddenly popped up in Carl's mind, "Looking at Mr. Chairman's expression, I'm afraid he also lacks confidence in me." '

If the current lineup of Munich 1860 is properly arranged in the second half of the season, it may still be able to climb up one or two places in the standings, which means that the second or third place will just be upgraded (the number of promotion places in the Bundesliga every season is 3 Only the top three in the standings can go to the Bundesliga.).But if the opponents have strengthened their strength, 1860 Munich will not be able to take advantage of them in the second half of the season, and if they maintain the No.4 or even lower position, they will vomit blood if they cannot be promoted.

He filtered all the methods and possibilities in his mind, and finally decided to take a gamble.

"Give me 150 million euros." Carl looked directly into the eyes of the club chairman and said solemnly: "I will give you the promotion quota for the Bundesliga next season."

"Oh! Carl!" Orr blinked quickly and was frightened again: "You can't make such a joke with me!"

"I'm not joking with you, Mr. Chairman. Seventh place in the standings, 11 games unbeaten, a solid tactical and main lineup, the morale of the players - don't these add up to deserve the support of the club? "

The chairman of Munich 1860 thought a lot in an instant: his not-so-secure chair was being watched by several forces; the major shareholder Wildmoser was always confronting him; Minority shareholders with a tailwind; if the team can return to the Bundesliga this season, his prestige on the board of directors may have a chance to surpass Wildmoser; "Bild" may put itself on the front page...

"Carl, what you said just now, that is, what you said about returning to the Bundesliga next season, is it an assumption or a guarantee?" After competing with reason and desire for a long time, Orr still couldn't help the temptation: "Maybe I can take a risk and convince Some minority shareholders turned to support me and gave you a transfer fund. However, if you don’t succeed, maybe Mr. Wildmoser will plan to oust me this summer.”

Carl replied seriously and sincerely: "If you step down, it's probably not far from the day when I need to get out. Mr. Chairman, I believe you know better than me about our relationship of mutual prosperity and mutual loss. Please rest assured, I don't want to The 150 million euros will go to waste."

Orr cautiously stretched out his right hand: "Then, it's a deal."

The author has something to say:

PS: I'm about to buy someone, here's a joke:

A Real Madrid

buy! ?

Is he the hottest?Is he the most famous?Does the neighbor want to buy him too?

Then buy it!Buy as much as you want!

Another price increase! ?

Buy that too!

Buy as much as you want! ! !

B Barcelona

buy! ?

Does he worship us?He made it clear that he wanted to come to us?Did we drag the shadows out?

It’s okay for him to watch the teaching videos produced by our Lala when he was a child!

Want to buy next door?

Then buy it!

As long as it can be counted as our own or may become the next door person, we can buy it!

However, he has to negotiate the price with his old club first! !

C Arsenal

buy! ?

Isn't there that so-and-so! ! ?

So who is unreliable?

Isn't there another second team? ! !

Is that guy underage to play?

OK then!

Who can the buyer sell?

If the surplus exceeds 1000 million, buy it! ! !

D Manchester United

buy! ?

Didn't you just buy it?

Didn't fill in the vacant position last year?

Just let that so and so come back and make a fuss!

We have old men on it!

Who else would you buy?

Did the old man ask you to buy it?

OK then!

Not expensive, right?

Manchester City

buy! ?

buy a few! ?

Is five enough! ?

F Chelsea

buy! ?

Strive for balance this year!

Don't buy it yet!

Just change the coach!

Want the hottest coach! ! !

Just buy half the team in two years!

F Liverpool

buy! ?

We have no money! ! !

All right!All right!

Expensive also buy!

Uh

Could it be parallel imports again? ?

GBayern Munich

buy! ?

Don't buy it!

We are strong enough! ! !

Two years without a championship! ?

Ok!

purchase! ! !

H Juventus

buy! ?

Reconstruction of course to buy people!

Fuxing wants to buy more!

But first ask Milan or Genoa if you want to buy them together! ?

IAC Milan

buy! ?

Can I rent it first?

Or [-]% off?

At least a pay cut, right?

Get in touch first to see if anyone wants to buy together

J Inter Milan

buy! ?

How about we change it! ?

Why don't you wait for us to sell a few first

Paris Saint-Germain

buy! ?

Buy one or a dozen?